Directions for reaching the observing site on top of Keechelus Ridge between Keechelus and Kachess Lakes.

This site is 75 miles (an hour and a half driving time) from my house in North Seattle, and is the best place I've found this close to Seattle.   It's located north of I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass.  Take Exit #62, Kachess Lake/Stampede Pass.  Go north or left off the ramp and cross over I-90.  Follow the Kachess Lake Road (Forest Road 49) approximately 3 miles to Forest Road 4936 on the left .  There is a private residence just north of this turnoff on the left, that has a carved wooden bear at the beginning of the driveway.  If you pass this you've just gone past the turn. Take  Forest Service road 4936 about 3 miles to the top of the ridge.There will be three spur roads off to the right and one off to the left on the way up. ( Two of the spur roads cut off to the right at switchbacks stay left at these.)  Always stay on the main road and keep left when in question at any forks.   When reaching the top, you'll enter a large open landing with the road going on to the right through the cleared area. Don't follow the road any further. A slash pile will be on your left and another across the landing.  At this point you'll notice a skid road going up about 50' higher on this spur ridge off to the left.  Follow this skid road up on top of the ridge in front of you.  Once on top, the road continues about 100 yards to the right or South along this short ridge and ends in a clear landing.  This is it.  A great view over Kachess Lake to the east and highway 90 to the south (farenough away to avoid lights).  The mountain to the  Northwest blocks out any apparent light polution from Seattle.  You're at about 4000' elevation and have a good view of the horizon north, east and south. This site is just far enough east to avoid Seattle's large light dome, but west enough to avoid the Ellensburg and Wenatchee lights.   This is a great spot for watching the Perseid and Leonid Meteor showers and plenty dark enough for astrophotography.  This last year , 2001, the snow was only 2" deep for the Leonids and could be managed with a 4x4.  The year previous, 2000, the snow was 6" and still manageable. The 1999 Leonids was clear dry and no snow.

This site is nicer than the Table Mountain site because of the lack of light polution in the south (due to Ellensburg) and the northeast (due to Wenatchee).  But, it can be clouded in sooner than Table if a system is moving in from the west.  Last summer I spent one night here than had to go to Table for another night to get ahead of the clouds.


See page 65 of the Washington Gazetteer Atlas for a guide.

The Kachess Lake/Stampede Pass Exit is near the Crystal Springs Campground along I-90 on the Gazetteer map between Keechelus and Kachess Lakes.




                        

          Road 4936 off Kachess Lake Road. Take this left and go 3 miles.                                                 Bear sign just past the turnoff.


                       

                            Stay left at the obvious forks                                                                                        Stay left at this one also


                       

                  It gets rough here but I can get up it ok in my VW van                                    This is the first landing you come to at the top.  Head up.


                                  
        
                            View East from the top over Kachess Lake                                                                     View North from the top




          
                     
                                            View South from the top